Australian tennis ace Nick Kyrgios recently took to social media to share an interesting prediction for 2024. He raised eyebrows by suggesting that rising tennis star Ben Shelton might secure his maiden Grand Slam title in the coming year. Kyrgios, known for his candid and humorous takes, seemed to be having a bit of fun as he drew a parallel between Shelton’s game and his own.
Shelton, the 21-year-old American, had a standout year, claiming his first tour-level title and finishing 2023 as World No. 17. Despite facing early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, Shelton’s exceptional run at the US Open, reaching the semifinals, left a notable impression on the tennis world.
Kyrgios, known for his thunderous serve and aggressive playing style, couldn’t resist the temptation to playfully compare Shelton’s game to his own. He shared on social media, stating, “I had a dream last night that Shelton won a slam… Is 2024 the year? Come to think of it, the game is huge, serve is a rocket…Reminds me of….”
I had a dream last night that Shelton won a slam…. Is 2024 the year? Come to think of it, game is huge, serve is a rocket…. Reminds me of….
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 6, 2023
However, fans couldn’t stop finding the irony in his post. The comparison Kyrgios made amused them, and they quickly joined in. One fan pointed out, “It reminds you of yourself but you never won a GC.” The sarcasm was evident as it highlighted Kyrgios’ lack of Grand Slam victories.
It reminds you of yourself but you never won a GC 😂
— 𝓕𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓸𝓲𝓼 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓙𝓻 🇨🇦 (@FrancoisTrentJr) December 6, 2023
Another fan mockingly added, “Reminds him of… someone else who’s never won a Slam and only been in the 2nd week of one twice in the last 7 years.” This comment cleverly pointed out Kyrgios’ poor stats at Majors, highlighting that he could sparingly reach the business end of the Grand Slams during his entire playing career.
Reminds him of …. someone else who’s never won a Slam and only been in the 2nd week of one twice in the last 7 years. 👍 https://t.co/7f8IX2RPOw
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) December 7, 2023
The banter didn’t stop there, as another fan bluntly said, “Get a job, stay away from him.” This reaction hinted that Kyrgios might have too much time on his hands, advising him to focus on his return rather than Shelton’s game. As the tennis world waits to see a fully fit Kyrgios back on the court, one thing is sure: his ability to keep the tennis world entertained both on and off the court remains unmatched.
Aussie star Nick Kyrgios is not on the entry list for the Australian Open 2024
Nick Kyrgios, the charismatic personality on and off the court, has drawn the attention of the tennis world for his exclusion from the official main draw entry list for the Australian Open 2024. Despite harboring strong hopes for a comeback at his home Grand Slam after grappling with injuries, Kyrgios’ non-participation at Melbourne Park seems evident now, much to the dismay of the tennis community.
Contrasting to Kyrgios’ absence, the entry list includes other marquee players returning from injury with the aid of protected rankings, such as the likes of Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic, Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic, and Reilly Opelka. The Australian star had previously mentioned that the stars needed to align for his return to the Australian Open, though he was working hard on his rehabilitation to return to the first major of the year.
Nick Kyrgios is not on the entry list for the 2024 #AusOpen, but it’s theoretically possible he could get a wild card later.
But if he had any plans of playing, he almost certainly would have entered.https://t.co/MJ8E93rV55
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) December 6, 2023
While other players, such as Nadal, have utilized protected rankings to secure entry into the AO 2024 draw, Kyrgios’ omission from the list, despite having the advantage of using his protected ranking, has raised questions about the timeline for his return to competitive tennis.